Kimberly-Clark appoints Russ Torres as President and Global COO

Kimberly-Clark announced the appointment of Russ Torres as the company’s new President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Torres will lead the day-to-day operations of Kimberly-Clark’s global business segments.

He will also oversee key areas such as Global Supply Chain, Research & Development, International Growth, and Digital Technology Solutions. Torres will continue to report directly to Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark.

To ensure continuity in the North American region, Kurt Laufer – currently President of U.S. Consumer Sales – has been named Interim President, North America, while the company searches for a permanent successor.

Torres joined Kimberly-Clark in 2020 and brings extensive experience in the consumer goods sector. He has previously led the company’s professional division and, since 2021, has overseen the consumer business in North America. In October 2024, he assumed leadership of the North American operations, which include personal care, family care, and professional business units. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles at Newell Brands, Bain & Company, and Mondelez International.

According to CEO Mike Hsu, Torres has been instrumental in driving transformation and consistent growth within the company. “Under his leadership, Kimberly-Clark’s North America business strengthened its growth trajectory, achieving mid-single digit compound annual growth”, said Hsu.

Torres expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “There is incredible potential still to be unlocked at Kimberly-Clark, and I look forward to working with our teams around the world to continue to execute on Powering Care, build on the power of our brands across the mega categories we serve and usher in the next chapter of growth”.